Truss



No. 62|,078. Patened Mar. I4, |899. J. L. HARKINSON &. H. A. HOLLIDAY.

TRUSS.

(Application filed Mar. 25, 1898.)

(No Model.)

' at a point to one side of its center.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN l.. HARKINSON AND HENRY A. HOLLIDAY, OF AMERY, l/VISCONSIN.

TRUSS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 621,078, dated March 14, 1899.

Application filed March 2 5, l 8 9 8.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN L. I-IARKINsoN v'and HENRY A. HOLLIDAY, citizens of the United States, residing at Amery, in the county of Polk and State of-Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trusses; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention has for its object to provide an improved-truss and to this end it consists of the knovel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described, and defined in the claims.

The preferred form of our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the truss. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, in horizontal section, taken through the bulb and connected parts. Fig. 3 is an end View of a section of the belt. Fig. 4 is aperspective View of the spring-tripod or union-plate. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the bulb, and Fig. 6 is a front elevation or face view of said bulb.

1 indicates a belt, and 2 the crotch-strap, which is rigidly secured at one end to the intermediate portion of said belt 1, preferably One end of the belt 1 is provided with a thin metallic ear 3, in which an eye or perforation 4, with a narrow extension 5, is formed. Likewise the free end of the strap l2 is provided with a metallic tip 6, in which a similarly-constructed eye or perforation 7 is formed. The other end of the belt 1 is provided with a strap extension 8, connected thereto by a buckle 9, and provided at its free end with a metallic tip 10, in which an elongated eye or perforation 11, similar to the eye or perforation 4 5, is formed. The parts of the truss so far described are substantially of the ordinary construction.

The free ends of the straps 1 and 2 are connected to a spring-tripod or union-plate 12, which is formed from a thin spring-metal plate and has three arms. This so-called tripod or union-plate, it will be noted,

Serial No. 675,165. (No model.)

is approximately Y-,shaped The ends of the upper prongs are provided with headed studs or buttons 13, and the end of the depending central portion of the bod y-seetion or that secl tion which joins the arms. At the inner extremity of the slot 15 the plate 12 is provided in one face with an enlarged and countersunk seat 16.

By means of their perforations or eyes the tips or extremities 3 and 11 of the belt 1 are detachably securable to the studs or buttons 13, and by means of the perforated tip 6 7 the free end of the strap 2 is likewise detachably securable to the stud or button 14.

17 indicates the hollow metallic bulb or presser, which in this construction has a tubular stem or centerA 18 running axially through the same and opening at the back or vouter side ofthe bulb. The open end of this tube or center is partially closed bya removable keeper-plate 19, secured to the bulb by screws 2O or otherwise, and provided with a small perforation 2l at the axis of the bulb.

A plunger or bolt 22 is mounted for longitudinal movement,with its screw-threaded stem working through said perforation 21 in the keeper-plate 19, and is provided with a head 23, that works within the tube 18. A nut 24, that is adjustable on the screw-threaded stem of the plunger or bolt 22, limits the outward movement thereof. y A coiled spring25, compressed between the plunger-head 23 and the face of the bulb, yieldingly holds said plunger or bolt outward to its limit. A pin or projection 26 on the head 23 Works in a longitudinally-extended groove or keyway 27 in the tube 18, and thus keeps the said plunger or bolt from turning with respect to the bulb.

On the outerl end of the plunger or bolt 22 is a pair of cooperating nut-s 28 and 29. The outer nut 28 is provided with a knurled iiange 30, which adapts it to be tightened by the lingers. y

To remove 'the bulb from working position, it is only necessary to loosen the nut 2S sufficiently to clear the countersunk seat 16 and then by lateral movement to pass the bolt 22 through the slot 15. As is obvious, it is placed IOO in working position by a reverse action. W'hen the nut 28 is tightened and forced into the seat 16, it is of course evident that the bolt 22 cannot be moved sidewise in the slot 15, and hence that the bulb is securely held in working position.

In order to give betterI ventilation and prevent the. bulb from becoming heated, we form the same in its working face with aplurality of perforations 31 and preferably, also, in its back or outer portion with several perforations 32, as well as with segmental slots 33, into which latter the .edges of the chamois or other flexible covering may be poked or forced to hold it in place in the customary manner. These ventilati n g perforations eectually prevent the bulb or head from becoming heated and from burning the flesh.

It will be noted that the union-plate 12 is concave or bowed inward in the direction of the bulb or head and that the ends of the metallic tips 3 and 10 are also bent inward toward the bulb. In virtue of this construction when the device is placed in Working position and the union-plate 12 is sprung or bowed in a reverse direction said plate 12 and tips 3 and 10 willextend approximately in the arc of a circle.

With the construction above described the bulb orpresser-head may, in a manner clearly position, it is so held under the action of the spring 25, the tension of which may be varied by adjusting the nut 29 on the stem 22, and it will be held under approximately the same pressure regardless of the movements of the that various alterations maybe made within the scope of said invention.

Vhat we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. A truss, involving a plate or section adapted to be strapped or otherwise secured to the body, in combination with a stem projecting therefrom, a bulb or presser head provided with a central tube in which the projecting end of said stem works, a spring compressed between said bulb or head and said stem, and a nut working on said stem, for adjusting the tension of said spring and serving as a stop to limit the action of the same, substantially as described.

2. In a truss, the combination with aplate or section adapted to be strapped or othern wise secured to the body, of the stem 22 projecting therefrom, the head or bulb 17 with central tube 18 and perforate removable disk or keeper 19, the nut 24C on said stem 22, and the spring 25 compressed within said tube 1S, substantially as described.

3. In a truss, the combination with a plate or section adapted to be strapped or otherwise secured to the body, of the stem- 22 projectin g therefrom and provided at its en d por tion with the projection 26, the bulb 17 with central tube lwand longitudinal groove 27, the removable keeper or disk 19, the nut 2t on said stem 22, and the spring 25 compressed within said tube 1S,substantially as described.

f1. In a truss, the combination with a plate or section adapted to be strapped or otherwise secured to the body, said plate having the open-ended slot 15 extending to the countersunk seat 16, of a bulb or presser head provided with a stem adapted to be passed laterally through said slot 15, and a pair of cooperating clamping-shoulders on said stem, at least one of which is adjustable and one of which is insertible' into said countersunk seat 16, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN L. HARKINSON. HENRY A. HOLLIDAY.

Vtitnesses:`

JAS. A. JAFFERS, CHAs. JoHNsoN. 

